Dallas Cowboys Blog

How can the Cowboys beat the Lions? Start with these four keys

IRVING — The Cowboys will try to improve to 3-1 this Sunday as they enter the upcoming bye week. Here is a look at what they need to do to defeat the Lions:

Win field-position battle
The Lions have a potent offense. They have produced the third-most points in the NFL and have completed more scoring drives – 19 – than any other team in the league. A big reason why Detroit has been so successful is the fact that they don’t have to travel very far to get the result they’re seeking. The Lions’ average starting field position, which is second in the NFL, is beyond their own 32-yard line. The Cowboys have to find a way to push Detroit back deep in its own territory and avoid the turnovers that have given the Lions a shorter path to the end zone.

Communicate and listen
Several times in their victory over Washington communication breakdowns nearly derailed the Cowboys. Center Phil Costa botched four snaps, receivers failed to run the right routes and other players struggled to line up correctly. That can’t happen against the Lions, who feature an aggressive defensive front and a potent offense that spreads the field. This week, the Cowboys brought in speakers and cranked up the noise at practice to help the Cowboys’ defensive players work on their hand signals in case the crowd drowns out their verbal cues. By game day, they hope their efforts were not made in vain.

Win the battle up front
Led by tackle Ndamukong Suh, Detroit’s defensive line is one of the most fearsome units in the NFL. The Lions will generate a push from the middle and attack from the edges. Six of the eight sacks the Lions have recorded have been collected by their front four. The Cowboys’ young offensive line must hold its blocks and give quarterback Tony Romo enough time to scan the field and deliver the ball to his receivers. But against Detroit, that’s easier said than done.

Finish drives
The Cowboys have produced only three touchdowns on 10 drives inside the red zone this year and their success rate in that area of the field is third-worst in the NFL. Last Monday, they were inside the Redskins’ 25-yard line six times, staring at an end zone in close proximity. Yet they never got there and instead had to settle for a field goal in each instance. Kicker Dan Bailey accounted for all 18 points for Dallas but someone else will have to make a contribution if the Cowboys have designs on winning the game.